Factors associated with use of assistive walking devices among older adults in Brazil

Abstract

Background Walking devices and other forms of assistive technology (AT) can benefit older adults by supporting mobility and social interactions, but usage outside of high-income countries is generally low. Objective To examine the factors associated with AT use and whether AT use is associated with higher levels of social participation among older adults in Brazil. Method The 2013 Brazilian National Health Survey interviewed 23,815 individuals 60 years or older. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were used to examine AT use, including canes and walkers, to assist with walking and social participation. Results Among older adults with mobility difficulty, 34.0% (95% CI 31.2- 36.9) reported using AT. Prevalence of the use of AT for walking increases with age: 21.4% of those 60-69 years reported using AT while 58.5% of those 90 years or older did. AT was negatively associated with participation in social activities. Conclusion Our analyses focused on older adults with mobility limitations who need appropriate transportation and environment adaptations to engage socially. Contrary to studies in more developed countries, among Brazilians, AT use is negatively associated with social interactions. The resulting confinement seems to lead to social isolation.

Assistive device utilization among disabled elderly in China: A cross‐sectional study

“…One possible explanation for this discrepancy could be that they included all elderly people in their study while all the participants in our study had a disability and therefore were more likely to expect to possess and use a greater number of assistive devices. Similarly, the use rate of assistive devices among elderly people with mobility difficulties in Brazil was 34% (Andrade et al, 2021), which was lower than our research data.…”

“…One possible explanation for this discrepancy could be that they included all elderly people in their study while all the participants in our study had a disability and therefore were more likely to expect to possess and use a greater number of assistive devices. Similarly, the use rate of assistive devices among elderly people with mobility difficulties in Brazil was 34% (Andrade et al., 2021), which was lower than our research data. This difference might be attributed to variations in the types of assistive devices used, differences among patient populations (such as age, disease type, and severity), and even variations in healthcare systems across different countries (Andrade et al., 2021; De Boer et al., 2009; Dupraz et al., 2020; Löfqvist et al., 2005; Pilegaard et al., 2022; Pryor et al., 2018; Yu et al., 2022).…”

“…This difference might be attributed to variations in the types of assistive devices used, differences among patient populations (such as age, disease type, and severity), and even variations in healthcare systems across different countries (Andrade et al, 2021;De Boer et al, 2009;Dupraz et al, 2020;Löfqvist et al, 2005;Pilegaard et al, 2022;Pryor et al, 2018;Yu et al, 2022).…”

“…Assistive devices are widely used to enhance and maintain the fundamental daily living capabilities of elderly individuals, promoting their independence and overall well‐being (Balasubramanian et al., 2021). Previous studies have demonstrated that assistive devices not only contribute to improving the health status of older adults (Dupraz et al., 2020), but also increase their participation in social activities (Andrade et al., 2021) while relieving the burden on caregivers (Mortenson et al., 2013). Consequently, this leads to an enhancement in their quality of life and subjective well‐being (Orellano‐Colón et al., 2020).…”

Exploring Challenges in Walking Frame Use Among the Elderly: A Study in Klang Valley, Malaysia

“…On the health aspect, the majority of them have hypertension and BMI preobese (25.0 -29.9 kg/m 2 ). Previous research has revealed that most people who use walking aids are elderly people aged 60 and above (Andrade et al, 2022;Charette et al, 2018). Decisions to use walking aids are also based on beliefs about ageing as well as physical needs (Gooberman-Hill & Ebrahim, 2007).…”